MotoGP News
We’re first for the latest MotoGP news. Motorcycle racing’s elite competition is a fast paced, ever-evolving beast and here you’ll find all of the MotoGP news you could wish for. We cover everything from interviews with the major players, updates on machine reveals, team news and more. See brand new content from MotoE and insightful ‘first look’ features showing the forthcoming MotoGP season’s riders in their new colours.
Rossi stays top at Sepang.
Valentino Rossi may have failed to better his day one time during testing at Sepang on Wednesday, but the Fiat Yamaha star still kept the number one position by almost half a second.
Gresini announces title sponsor.
Founded in Milan in 1936, San Carlo has 12 production plants, 2500 employees, 200,000 customers and a Europe-wide distribution network.
Hopkins down and out.
The Anglo-American, riding a ZX-RR in the wet for the first time, looked to have got the measure of the slick morning conditions as his lap times tumbled - but disaster struck when he got on the gas fractionally too hard at the high-speed first turn, and was catapulted over the handlebars.
FIRST PICTURES: Kawasaki`s 2008 livery.
The livery appeared during the opening day of testing at Phillip Island, in Australia, on Wednesday - when new signing John Hopkins also rode with green-and-black leathers for the first time. Hopkins and Anthony West finished the first day of testing 12th and 13th on the timesheets.
125: Smith fastest at Jerez.
The Briton led the way during the second and third days of testing at the track which hosts the Spanish Grand Prix in two months time.
Lorenzo lead Yamaha.
By Peter McLaren Confidence isn't something that Jorge Lorenzo appears to lack, but the MotoGP rookie's self-belief was surely given a further boost when he finished last week's Sepang test in third position - as the top Yamaha rider.
Rossi raises pace with pneumatic engine.
"We continued with the pneumatic-valve engine as it's important to get as much mileage as possible behind us with this engine to check the performance, the reliability and just to gain experience with it," explained the new Bridgestone rider, who improved on his best day one time by over one seco
Raikkonen compliments Stoner.
Finn Raikkonen may look a little 'cold' in the top picture, but he had some warm comments about Stoner and his achievements during the 2007 MotoGP season.
Toseland`s new leathers.
"They call the new BKS leathers the Saville Row suit of MotoGP and I'm proud to be representing a British manufacturer in the world championship," said Toseland. "I want to stand alongside Valentino Rossi at the [upcoming] Sepang test and for him to ask me who made such fantastic leathers."
Ducati explains the GP8.
One day after the Desmosedici GP8's official launch on the snowy slopes of Madonna di Campiglio, Ducati Corse CEO and product director of Ducati Motor Holding, Claudio Domenicali, has revealed the technical changes made for the new bike - with which Casey Stoner will aim to defend his MotoGP crow
<I>Crash.net`s</I> MotoGP season review - Part 1.
The 2006 season - when technical problems, accidents, injuries and Nicky Hayden combined to end Valentino Rossi's five-year reign - was seen as something of a freak occurrence which, paddock wisdom assured, would be quickly corrected during 2007.
Toseland on his bike for weight loss target.
The super-fit 27-year-old, who has muscled bulky 1000cc Superbikes around the race track for the past seven seasons, has set the target - which will boost his power-to-weight ratio out on track - after completing his first two tests on the smaller 800cc MotoGP machine.
Hopkins married in Las Vegas.
New Kawasaki rider John Hopkins married English fianc?e, Ashleigh, at a ceremony in Las Vegas last weekend.
2008 entry list: Stoner number one.
The 22-year-old Australian claimed his and Ducati's first premier-class crown wearing the #27, but will - like Nicky Hayden before him - defend the title with the world champion's digit.
Toseland gig announced.
James Toseland's 2008 MotoGP move will leave little time for the double World Superbike champion to perform with his (excellently named) band Crash , but the Briton will take centre-stage during a fund raising event on the 6th of January.
Stoner low on rich list.
Casey Stoner may have won the most prestigious prize in motorcycle racing this year, the MotoGP World Championship, but the Ducati star has been ranked just 14th on BRW's Australian sporting rich list.
Kawasaki `benefiting from Hopkins`.
Those positions may not have set any pulses racing, but 'Team Green' insists that lap times weren't a concern and claims to be delighted with the impact former Suzuki rider Hopkins has already made.
Nakano top Bridgestone.
The Japanese, who rode a Michelin-shod Honda this season, is back on Bridgestones for 2008 with Honda Gresini - and set the fifth fastest lap time at Jerez, albeit 1.559secs from factory Honda rider Dani Pedrosa
Red Bull whittle down Cup Rookies.
After two demanding days of testing at Paul Ricard in the South of France, twelve young riders are being invited to join the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup in 2008.
Rossi`s Mugello helmet on eBay.
The special 'heart' helmet - autographed by the seven times world champion - was used during his home Italian GP at Mugello in June 2007. Designed by Aldo Drudi, only three were ever made - one of which was thrown into the crowd by Rossi after winning the race.
de Puniet: The Honda is easier.
Carlos Checa may have called it is his 'most difficult' bike, but new LCR rider Randy de Puniet seems to have adapted extremely well to the Michelin-equipped satellite Honda, after two years on a Bridgestone-shod factory Kawasaki.
Hayden kills a cobra!
A wet track in the morning delayed the start of testing until midday, when Hayden ventured out to resume engine comparison work he began yesterday aboard the 2007 machine.